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Backstory Basics
Backstory can be essential to understanding a character and his/her journey. It can deepen conflict, reveal motivation and elicit sympathy for a hero or secondary character. But… Nothing can kill...
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Announcing the Ultimate Guide to Picture Book Submissions!
I’m thrilled to announce that my good friend and colleague, author and 12X12 Picture Book Challenge Founder Julie Hedlund, and I have officially launched our new course, The Ultimate Guide to Picture...
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What’s your biggest question about writing children’s books?
Happy New Year! As a children’s author, editor and writing coach, I spend a lot of time talking about writing and/or publishing books for children and young adults. I feel so blessed to do the work I...
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What’s Your Biggest Question About Doing School Visits?
I’m putting the final touches on School Visit Wizard, a step-by-step, customizable kit to help authors book, plan and deliver A+ author visits in schools. I want to make sure I’ve covered everything,...
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How Far in Advance Do Schools Book Author Visits?
Authors interested in doing school visits often wonder when they should contact schools to cultivate bookings. The answer is: as far in advance as possible. Many – if not most – schools plan their...
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The #1 Best Resource for Picture Book Authors
If you’re a working or aspiring picture book writer, this post is for YOU. The single best resource that I know of for picture book writers is – for a VERY limited time – accepting new registrations....
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Am I Writing a Picture Book?
Not every children’s book with illustrations qualifies as a picture book. Picture book is a unique format, distinct from chapter books or illustrated novels. Picture books are designed for...
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Where the Women Are: Tough Questions About the Gender Disparities in...
We’re celebrating Women’s History month with 31 days of posts focused on improving the climate for social and gender equality in the children’s and teens’ literature community. Join in the...
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“De-Rhyming”– or, Converting Your Verse Picture Book to Prose
Recently, a former student and colleague of mine asked for advice on how to convert her picture-book-in-verse to prose. An editor had requested the change, which wasn’t surprising since it’s still true...
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How’s the Voice in Your Query Pitch?
One of the most common—and detrimental—query mistakes I see these days is loss of voice. I’m not referring to laryngitis. I’m talking about narrative voice: the style, spirit and tone of your...
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